Boy in care of foster father found hanging from tree

 

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/may/27/boy-found-hanging-tree/

Boy found hanging from tree

Associated Press
Originally published 08:49 a.m., May 27, 2009
Updated 11:54 a.m., May 27, 2009

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - State and county authorities are investigating the Memorial Day death of an 8-year-old foster child found hanging from a tree.

Rutherford County Sheriff's Sgt. Dan Goodwin said David "Charlie" Cotten was fishing with his two brothers, ages 7 and 10, and their foster father, reserve deputy Kam Sandstrom, as well as deputy Edwin Fitzgerald and his two sons.

Sandstrom told investigators Cotten accidentally struck another boy with his fishing pole and was told to stop fishing for a while.

When he hadn't returned after 15 minutes, Sandstrom called out to the boy, who answered he was OK. When the child hadn't returned after another 15 minutes, Sandstrom said he sent two children to look for his foster son but they couldn't find him.

About that time, the boy's foster grandfather, Sid Sandstrom, arrived at the fishing site and saw the boy hanging from a tree by baling twine.

"Sid ran over to Charlie grabbing him around the waist to remove the baling twine and lifting him up while his wife yelled for Kam to come help," according to a report by deputy Mark Mack.

An ambulance was called and paramedics tried to revive the boy. He was pronounced dead at Middle Tennessee Medical Center about an hour after he arrived, officials said.

The state Department of Children's Services is investigating. The two other foster children have been removed from the home "in an abundance of caution," spokesman Rob Johnson said.

A Sandstrom family member told The Daily News Journal they had been told not to comment.

Reserve deputies are unpaid volunteers who assist at large public events and sometimes ride along with certified deputies, the sheriff's department said.

More details as they develop online and in Thursday's News Sentinel.

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